Interesting Links

This and That

by Karen on November 5, 2011

in Interesting Links, quilts

Before I forget I wanted to post a link to my husband’s blog Exit 78 – he is right now going through a lot of our vacation photos and putting some on his blog.  He does blog much differently than I do – so don’t expect insane chatter like I make – let’s say he doesn’t chatter much  Smile  What he does is different though in that he takes a lot of time lapse photos and puts things into short video clips.  He is using photos that we both took and combines them – so if you are interested in seeing short spurts of the country side go take a look.  We traveled mostly on highways not interstates so it shows a bit of small town America.  So for those of you who enjoyed followed our trip for six weeks you might want to see these short videos and go check out his site.

Also Vicki from Field Trips in Fiber is having iron problems like I did last week or so and is getting some good comments about irons if you are interested you can go read them.  I swear things are just getting made cheaper and cheaper and out of horrible products – Someone commented on her blog that you can find good hefty irons at the Vermont Country Store – I went and looked and they have two listed – one is a dry iron for 29.95 and one is steam/dry for 39.95.  Both look like they are good solid irons.  (I will have to remember this (besides the cheap one out in the workshopSmile )

I got some more of Joseph’s Coat stitched yesterday – I finally had to lay the quilt top out on the floor last night to measure it and to lay these pieces out to see if I had done the right amount – I needed one more set like this and I had some extra melons for one corner – today I will need to start printing our more melons of the next several colors to get ready – I say print out because if you remember I am using the Inklingo method of ironing my fabric to freezer paper and then printing my templates directly to the fabric with the seam allowance on it – makes it handy for hand piecing.

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I also got a little of the quilting done on the signature/wedding quilt – it is moving slowly and I really need to concentrate more on it – it will get done this winter – really.  I will decide when I take it off of the frame in a couple months if the panel with the photos and leaves has enough quilting in it – if needed I can put some more in it then.

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Don’t forget to change your clocks back an hour tonight – for those of you who have daylight savings time — fall back – I wrote about daylight savings time a week or so ago and I was surprised by how many of you wish we didn’t have this and want time to not be messed with.  I’m sure I could get used to it also – but I do like daylight hours long – not short.  I like all seasons but I do not like how fast it gets dark in the evening in the fall and winter and we are not in the northern states where it gets dark even earlier and I won’t even get into the very short days of the places really in the north – I don’t know if I would like that at all.

Have a great weekend.

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Metal Folding Chair Pad

by Karen on March 6, 2011

in Interesting Links, quilts, Red & Green Traditional Applique

Yesterday I mentioned how hard those metal folding chairs are that so many of us have to sit in at our quilt groups and how very uncomfortable they can get for a lot of us.  I did some searches and chatted with a few people on some quilting message boards and here is one site that has a pattern for one if anyone is interested.

http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=9289

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I can’t say I like the flap in the front hanging down and think that would get in the way of the legs.  The whole thing fold ups as a tote bag for carrying.

I think I am going to look for a good thick square cushion that would fit a chair like this and I mean a good one – and then possible make this or just cover the cushion with some pretty fabric and maybe put a tie on both ends to tie it to the chair so it won’t move out of place – actually a thick cushion that they sell in stores for your kitchen chairs would probably work out just as well and put it in a tote bag and save you the trouble of making one!! Smile

And here is the 12th of the 12 needed at 16 1/2 inches for my traditional Red and Green Applique!! Finished it today after sitting around watching/listening to the old movie “Independence Day” from about 1996 I think or there about.  It stars Will Smith and Jeff Goldblume (sp?).  This one is a Cherry Wreath.

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I am not sure if I will start the big center block right away – it is 32 x 32 inches.  It was hard to print out the design from the book as the book is of course about 8 x 11 inches so I had to end up taping numerous sheets of paper together as it came out of the printer.  I think I will get it out on the table this week and maybe start tracing over it so it will be neater to work with then decide if I am getting right on it or not.  I kind of think after working on it so much the last couple months that I might take a month or so off and start on one of those jelly rolls.  But we will see – I will decide this week.  I might end up doing both!

It was another chilly day today and I did not do anything outside – maybe tomorrow it will be nicer.

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Fort Laramie Wyoming

by Karen on July 10, 2010

in Interesting Links, life in general

As you all can probably tell Mike and I love historic places and we both love history.  When I was going to college I was majoring in it.  Although I never finished a degree most of the class credits I have were in history.  I will be trying to get some quilting and sewing done on this trip :) I just haven’t found much time for it.  We have not watched any tv since we left home and mainly  just been looking at sites, traveling, and then both of us blog! Mike posted maps on his blog of were we have driven and I have cut and pasted them here:

our first part of our journey west

the second days drive

across Nebraska

The last place we stopped yesterday was Fort Laramie Wyoming.  The fort was used for about 50 years in the mid to late 1800′s protecting the travelers and the telegraph lines going through this part of the country before treaties were signed and kept with the Indians.  I must say that I do not think the Indians were treated right but that is something that took place before our time and I had no say in the matter.  If the pioneers had not continued to forge to the west we do not even know what would have taken place in the history of this part of the country.

The fort was crumbling from disuse when the park service took it over in the 1930′s and renovated the buildings. Some of the photos might not look clear this is because they have glass over all entrances to the rooms so that you can see in the rooms but cannot go into to them.  It really ruined taking photos for me, but I can understand why they can’t have the rooms open to the public.

an 1800's style barracks

I loved this tree - it was not tall but very wide, I have no idea how old it is - there are not a lot of trees in this area, one of the branches is so low but so long that they have it supported on one end so it won't break off.

a quilt on a bed in one of the officiers house. I do not think this was an actual antique quilt - I couldn't get real close to it but it just didn't look really old - maybe it was but very well taken care of? The fabric showed no signs of age to me other than being a little faded.

I took more photos of the quilts on the beds but because of the glass between me and the quilts they didn’t turn out well.  Mike took photo’s with his camera too and his camera is better.  When he goes through his I will see which ones to take and past here.

a snake we saw at Scottsbluff - it is up against the wall - not a rattlesnake but do not know what kind it is

a woven coverlet - brought from Ohio by family on their way west

a shiney new doctor kit - wouldn't you love being treated with this equipment!

the flooded North Platte River in this area of eastern Wyoming. We had intended to camp in the parks in this area and found out a couple days ago that the area was still flooded and has been for over a month I think. Instead we are at a KOA for two nights as there are many things in this area we wanted to see but did not want to have to search for a campground in the area that was not flooded. All of those trees in the distance are standing in water.

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Long Day – Saw Many Things

by Karen on July 9, 2010

in Interesting Links, life in general

Today was a very long day – we hit the road at about 9 this morning and didn’t make camp until 7 this evening.  Much longer day than normal.  But we did not really drive that many miles – 250 miles.  We had so many places we wanted to stop at to see on the drive so we had many many breaks.

We traveled a good long way on Highway 26 in Western Nebraska.  This follows the Oregon/California/Mormon Trails.  If you do not know these 3 trails pretty much followed the same path for a good distance before they break off from each other.  One of course heading to Oregon, one to California and one to Salt Lake City area of Utah.

We stopped to read plenty of the road side historic signs along the way today.  Here is a photo of one sign we saw today which explains itself:

one of the first of two women to travel by wagon train to Oregon

Chimney Rock - a marker that people were told to look for on the trail to go the right direction

Chimney Rock is a really famous marker out west – it used to be larger – due to erosion it has gotten smaller in the last 150 years since people used it as a marker for the trail.  They have a nice visitor center/museum here and we spent about an hour here and had lunch too.

Our next stop was Scottsbluff another place in history where there are still deep impressions in the earth from the thousands of wagons that came through this area.  We were here for close to two hours.   In most places contrary to what is shown in the old west movies and tv shows the wagon trail was not always one long line of wagons but spread out all over the place so people were not constantly eating the dust of all the wagons in front of them.  In Scottsbluff the trail narrows and it was more of traveling in a line. Because of that the wagon ruts were deep in this sandy soil and although due again to erosion you can’t see the actual ruts you can see where the soil is cut deep into almost ravine type of areas now.

this is one of those deep cuts into the soil.

Scottsbluff with a recreation covered wagon - one of three set up here.

one of the replica wagons not packed as full as I am sure they were. The child here is playing the part of the child going west - she didn't appear to be too happy about doing this :) it was hot out.

from on the top of Scottsbluff you could see this hiking trail from up high. This trail goes to the visitors center. You can ride a shuttle bus to the top and ride back if you want. If walking if you look at the end of the trail you will see a tunnel - that is for foot traffic - I have no idea how long it is - maybe one day we will walk it but not today - we were already realizing we would get to camp late.

I will give more photos tomorrow of the last stop we made today which was the old Fort Laramie in Wyoming.  I almost lost my camera today!  We took the shuttle bus to the top of the bluff and walked on a few of the short trails to see the overlooks and then took the shuttle bus back to the museum/visitors center.  When I got in to the museum I realized I did not have the camera.  I had left it on the seat.  The driver had mentioned to us that after he dropped us off he had to drive to town to get gas!  We had to wait an extra half an hour before he got back so I could retrieve my camera.  One of the rangers called the driver on his cell phone to check and see if I had left it there and sure enough he said yes.

Back in 1991 was the last time we had been to Scottsbluff and we being the only passengers on the shuttle had gotten to talking to him and told him of our trip back then — the kids to this day still refer to the trip as the “trip from hell” – need I say more.  Picture Chevy Chases “Vacation” movie :)   LOL anything that could happen did happen. The part that had to do with Scottsbluff was that we locked the keys in the minivan with the engine running!!  We had left home pulling a 13 foot trailer with the pickup truck and got 20 miles from home and the engine blew – took the mini van instead, had to replace the radiator on the trip – had two cracks in the windshield from flying rock, flat tires,  and then on the way back home about 100 miles from home someone ran into the back of our camper and pushed in the back about 2 feet – then claimed bankruptcy and had no insurance after they told us they did!!  We saw 13 states and 2 Canadian Provenience’s that trip. No wonder the kids call that 3 week vacation the vacation from hell! LOL

When I got my camera back from the driver of the shuttle he was laughing and said “I hope this is the worse thing that happens this trip” I do too!!

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A Nebraska Sod House

by Karen on July 8, 2010

in Interesting Links

Wouldn’t you just love to live in this!  OMG I don’t know how the sturdy pioneer woman did it!!  We drove over to Ash Hollow today – I have many photos so I will do several blog post with them.  This post will be just on the sod house :)   With two doors and no windows I’m not sure how the pioneer woman got her sewing done – she must have been almost blind from eye strain within a few years of living here.  Maybe she put her rocking chair (if she had one) outside by the door when she was working on her sewing so she would have more light?

The little sod house - so nice and cozy I'm sure. Made from cutting the ground up into squares or oblong pieces and stacking. Inside is muddy and damp, dirt dropping I imagine and bugs crawling.

the inside of the "house"

I looked up at the roof and saw these cactus - I thought it was really weird to have cactus growing on the roof.

then I walked around to the back of the house and looked up and saw the roof was covered in prickly pear cactus!

While we were looking and taking photos another tourist came by so I had him take a photo of Mike and I in front of this house

for some unknown reason (to me that is) in this part of the country it is not uncommon to see boots placed on fence posts. The property by the sod house had a whole string of boots on the fence post. Anyone know the reason for this tradition?

I will do one or two more post on Ash Hollow – like I say I have a lot of photos.  I will get behind on posts at some point I am sure.  So far we have had a cell signal strong enough for internet at all places we have been – I’m sure sooner or later there will be several days in a row without it.

Tomorrow we move on and will be at the end of Western Nebraska.  We will see Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff National Momument. Depending on where we find a campsite we might also be seeing historic Fort Laramie in Wyoming.

An update on the quilting front I am about 2/3′rds done with one applique block – wonder if I will get done with it by the weekend.  I have not spent much time at it.  We have been taking walks as often as we can, we are trying to get in shape for hikes in the mountains later this month.  I think we did 2 miles yesterday (one walk) and 3 walks today for a total of about 4 miles.

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Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area

by Karen on July 7, 2010

in Interesting Links

July 7, Wednesday

What a neat park this is.  We camped at this park 32 years ago.  We were living in Idaho at the time and my youngest brother and sister ages 12 & 14 stayed with us for 2 months visiting.  When it was time for them to go back to Arkansas my parents met us at this park to pick them up – it was about half way and neither of us had time to go all the way to either pick them up or bring them home :)   We spent a day or two camping here if I remember right.  Our two girls were about 5 & 2 1/2.  I wonder if they remember it – we never camped here after that – plans just never worked out for it.  The park is exactly as I remember it from back then.

Very tall cotton woods are throughout the park, it is also on a lake which is much higher than normal this year – but luckily no flooding right here.

our campsite among the trees

another view of the park.

another view of our site - love that curved tree.

The day started very cloudy and dark once again, it rained heavily for a time last night.  Thought it might rain again today during the day but it didn’t.  Might rain this evening but it almost looks like it is clearing up finally.  I had a sweat shirt jacket on almost all day – only got up to 68!!  Tonight to dip to 54 wow – what a relief from the heat earlier in the week.

Here is a photo of Mike and his dad.  The next time we visit him they will be in Oregon, they had their house up for sale for sometime and it sold the morning of the day we got there.  They will be moving in a month to Oregon where 3 of their children live and the youngest daughter and her family will be moving back there as well at the same time.  (they being Mike’s dad, his step-mom, youngest sister and her family).

Mike is the tall one :) (younger too LOL) he sure is a lot taller than his dad - his mom too. Supposed to be some tall ones on his mothers side of the family somewhere - all I have met on dad's side are short! Mike and his dad both have the same nose though and I guess the same hair too!

We will be at this campground tomorrow too and will drive around and see some sites.  Mike spent a bit of time in his childhood in and out of this area and wants to look at some places he remembers.  Also we are close to Ash Hollow and will check it out – it has been years since we had been there.  We are going to be visiting all kinds of historical places this trip that have to do with the Oregon Trail and this is one of them – photo’s tomorrow :)   I guess next visit to his dad will cover more Oregon Trail territory – we have been over part of it but not for a long time.

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38 Years

by Karen on June 18, 2010

in Interesting Links

I really have nothing quilting related to blog about today.  Yesterday was our 38th anniversary, it is sometimes hard to remember that we are old enough to be married that long, we were 19 & 20 when we met and married.  Our courtship lasted 7 weeks and we got married in a courthouse – no fancy wedding with a big bill attached to it.  I got married in a white mini-dress and Mike was in jeans :)   and 1972 was the year.   Yesterday we spent most of the day in Little Rock on a “date day”.  We have never really done anything much to celebrate our anniversary.  Mainly just go out to dinner or something like that.  Yesterday was shopping, a movie – “Robin Hood” – a different story than normal.  Some of you may have seen it – a variety of reviews.  I thought the first half dragged but liked the second half.  We stopped in Conway on the way home and ate at the “Market Place”, yummy bread drizzled with butter, I had a stir fry and Mike had a steak.  They have a variety of food on the menu and I can always find something I like on it.

When shopping I found this cute tiny purse to take with us when we travel.  Most times when on the road I do not like to lug my heavy bag (I never intend for it be heavy but some how it keeps getting more things in than I mean to have ) around with me but I do not always have a pocket large enough to stuff things in it.  I’m sure a lot of you can relate to that.  We are in and out of visitor centers and gift shops.  Sometimes just wandering the streets of little towns looking at things and I want to carry my phone with me, cash, credit card, drivers license ect.  but not all of the other stuff that is in the purse “in case I need it” (which means rarely used).  The brand name is “Sherpani” and here is a link to the web page with their products.

my cute little "wallet purse"

unzip and you have room for credit cards, drivers license, a little space behind it for cash, opposite side has a zipper mesh bag could be used for coins & lip stick or whatever, behind it room for something, tiny pen, note pad?

elastic band will hold the phone. The sales girl and I were laughing about how phones used to be big, then went tiny and now are back to big. I had to get my phone out to try it in the purse to see if it fit before I bought it. At the end of the shoulder strap is a key hook that you can hook your keys on so you won't forget them and they don't take up room on the inside.

Just the right size I need when we are wandering around – sometimes we have gone in a visitor center and then notice if you go through the back door it will lead to a short nature trail that we want to see but I do not feel like going back to the car to lock my purse in (always have to remember to cover it up so it is not seen) so then I end up lugging this heavy bag around with me.  With this tiny wallet purse it can be crossed over my shoulder and it so tiny and light weight I won’t even notice it.

Edited:  and a big plus was that I got it on sale! The Container Store sells this product, I don’t know where else.

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Just Checking In!

by Karen on April 22, 2010

in Interesting Links, life in general

Tomorrow I will start wandering through the quilt show – I look forward to seeing all the quilts and all the goodies from the vendors .  We arrived in the area late afternoon so we are saving it for tomorrow.  Tuesday and Wednesday we toured though some areas that were within 50 miles of the campsite at Village Creek State Park in Arkansas.  Most of the time when we go to a park to camp it is with the intention of walking some trails and seeing things at the park.  Well – it didn’t work out at this park.  The bugs were everywhere!  Little flying type of gnats that we were told were in the process of hatching!!  When outside they would swarm around you – up your nose, in the mouth and ears!! Well maybe not swarm – that might be an exaggeration – but enough so that it was not comfortable to be out much.  So instead of walking in the woods being bothered by the bugs one day we drove over to Parkin State Park which is an archeological park.  The visitor center was really nice and had such a fine sampling of pottery that had been found at the site in the mounds that are in the park.  Here are photos from the park.

The sign at the entrance to the park

One of the old mounds at the park. There is a 3/4 mile trail around the park showing some of the historical sites - well it was a fast walk - the bugs were at this park too!!

Some of the pottery that was dug up at the park under the mounds.

More pots!! love these old things, they are so neat looking. At least inside there were no bugs!

Next will be photos from Jacksonport State Park that I took Tuesday afternoon – an enjoyable day and we saw so much (and no bugs!!).

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One more block

by Karen on April 16, 2010

in Dear Jane - "Insanity Revisited", Interesting Links

I haven’t touched my Dear Jane blocks for the “Insanity Revisited” quilt in a month!  Time flies doesn’t it.  I thought I would try to get back into it today and did one block.  Now when will I pick it up again – I don’t know.  I will try to continue as I do want to get this quilt top finished but there is a lot left to do.

Row 11 (K) block #5

I sewed this one outside on the porch.  That is the problem right now – I want to be outside but it is breezy enough that I won’t try another one today on the porch – not with these little pieces I had to chase one piece down!

I am still quilting on the baby quilt “Sugar and Spice” and I’m about half way done with it.  I will bring it with us in the motor home when we go camping next week and work on it in the evenings.  We decided on three nights at Village Creek State Park in the eastern part of the state and then on to Paducah for the quilt show. The weather is just right for camping and we are looking forward to time at the park and then the show.  It is nice that it is not a super long distance from us.

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Garvan Woodland Gardens

by Karen on April 14, 2010

in Interesting Links

Yesterday for something different to do we decided to take the day off of yard work and workshop cleaning up and drove to Hot Springs.  Hot Springs is about 80 or so miles southwest from us just as everything else tends to be.  We had heard of the Garvan Woodland Gardens for a long time now but have never gone to see them.  We missed the peak of the tulip season but there were still plenty to see.  The azaleas are beautiful and so many!  So here are some photo’s of what we saw yesterday – and due to allergies and the hotter than normal weather we really didn’t see everything but will go back another time I am sure.  I have many more photos than these posted and will post a few more over the next couple days.

this azalea bud is almost double in size of the varieties that I have here at home. I could not believe how large it was.

pretty walk ways throughout the 210 acre park. I thought this bridge was so pretty, when you first come to the bridge and take a side path you don't realize what the structure of the bridge is until you go around the corner and see the tunnel through it. A pleasant surprise.

The Koi pond - they were very large and plentiful

a pretty waterfall in the pond area

a snowball tree! such a healthy plant the trunk was so big

a pretty trickling stream with a large fern at the top

I did get in one hour of quilting last night but didn’t really accomplish much with having been gone all day.  Today I am now off to the eye doctor and my eyes will be dilated – I most likely won’t get to any quilting this evening and will have my sunglasses on all afternoon!!

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